What Are Linehaul Charges in Moving?

How Linehaul Is Calculated

The linehaul formula for interstate moves is: Net Weight (CWT) × Tariff Rate = Linehaul Charge

Net weight is determined by weighing the truck before loading (tare weight) and again after loading (gross weight). The difference is the shipment's net weight. FMCSA regulations require interstate carriers to provide customers with certified weight tickets from a licensed scale.

The tariff rate depends on two variables: the mileage band and the weight bracket. Carriers publish rate tables (often using the CZAR-lite tariff as a baseline) that list a dollar-per-CWT rate for each combination. Heavier shipments and longer distances produce higher absolute charges, but the per-CWT rate typically decreases at higher weights and longer distances.

Minimum Weight Requirements

Most interstate carriers establish a minimum chargeable weight — commonly 1,000 to 2,000 pounds. If a shipment weighs less than the carrier's minimum, the customer is charged as if the shipment weighed the minimum. This protects the carrier from the overhead costs of a full move for a very small shipment.

For small moves — a studio apartment or partial household — customers frequently pay the minimum weight charge even if their actual goods weigh less. Disclosing this upfront on the estimate prevents disputes and sets accurate expectations. If a minimum applies, show it explicitly as a line item labeled "Minimum Weight Applied" alongside the actual estimated weight.

Fuel Surcharges

Fuel surcharges are separate from linehaul but are calculated as a percentage of the linehaul charge. They fluctuate weekly in response to the U.S. Department of Energy's national average on-highway diesel fuel price index. Most carrier tariffs include a table that maps diesel price ranges to a percentage fuel surcharge — for example, diesel at $4.50/gallon triggers a 20% fuel surcharge.

During periods of high diesel prices, fuel surcharges can add 20–25% to the linehaul cost — a significant impact on total estimate accuracy. Moving company software should allow estimators to set and update the active fuel surcharge rate as a single variable that propagates across all open estimates automatically.

Linehaul vs. Accessorial Charges

The clearest way to explain the distinction to customers: linehaul covers the truck, the drive, and the crew for standard loading and unloading. Accessorial charges cover everything else — the complications that arise from specific conditions at pickup or delivery.

• Long carry fee: triggered when the truck can't park within 75 feet of the door
• Stair carry: applies per flight of stairs when no elevator is available
• Shuttle: required when the primary truck cannot access the address
• Storage-in-transit: when the destination isn't ready on the scheduled date

A well-structured estimate always presents linehaul and accessorials as separate line items, making it easy for customers to understand what they're paying for and why.